1997 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR Complaints

RUNAWAY MOTORHOME ON A 1997 FORD CHASSIS IN 2009 ON INTERSTATE 85. WHEN I REALIZED THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT TO NO AVAIL. I TOOK AN APPROACHING EXIT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE MOTORHOME WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC LUBRICATED THE LINKAGE. WHEN THE PROBLEM CONTINUED I CALLED FORD AND THEY AUTHORIZED A FIX FOR A RECALL PROBLEM INVOLVING THE BRAKE IN WHICH A FIRE COULD START. THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED AT LEAST 2 MORE TIMES IN THE SAME YEAR ON A TRIP FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO CALIFORNIA. I REALIZED THAT THE ACCELERATION SEEMED TO OCCUR IF THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE GEAR TO DOWNSHIFT DUE TO HIGHWAY INCLINE. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET IT APPEARS FORD HAS HAD OTHER UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEM. SOME DATES AND FIGURES ARE ONLY ESTIMATES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR RV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON A STEEP MOUNTAIN, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO LOCK INTO GEAR WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL. AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED MULTIPLE TIMES, THE RV SLOWED DOWN. THE BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONAL UNTIL HE REACHED HIS DESTINATION. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS BURNING. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000. UPDATED 9/17/09 *CN THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD SHUT OFF BY ITSELF AFTER DRIVING FOR AN HOUR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RE-SET THE CRUISE CONTROL, HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR A HALF HOUR. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS USED IN HIS RV WAS NO LONGER BEING USED FOR HIS PARTICULAR RV DUE TO ITS SHORTCOMINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY.

ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS REAR AXLE BOLT BROKE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 4-5 MPH. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN 20,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK